The list of possible challenges that could arise during the life cycle of a medical construction project are as varied as the projects themselves. However, some of the most common challenges revolve around structuring and assembling the right project team and deciding whether or not an equipment planner is needed.

Assembling the Right Team

Creating the ideal integrated project team can present challenges early on in a medical construction project. To avoid any drama or confusion on day one, make sure that all the necessary stakeholders are brought together at the very early stages of the project. You should aim to have most, if not all, key stakeholders should be involved even as the project is just being designed.. This will help with cohesion and consistency, but also helps ensure details won’t be overlooked or missed in the later stages of the project.

Equipment Planners

Deciding whether or not to engage an equipment planner is often a decision that is disregarded in the early stages of a construction project.

Ask yourself these three questions when making decisions in terms of equipment planning:

Is there already someone on the project team that can plan for all of the medical equipment needed for this project?

Does that person have the necessary experience with medical equipment planning to ensure for the project’s successful outfitting, including a thorough understanding of the RFP process for vendors?

Does that person have other project responsibilities that they will be pulled away from to do the equipment planning, or that might prevent them from devoting the necessary attention to the medical equipment planning?

All too often the discussion about the need for an equipment planner arises well into the life of the project; sometimes, too late for an equipment planner to be effective. It’s best to engage an equipment planner as early as possible during a construction project as a means to properly estimate and plan for what supplies are needed, how much will be needed and what equipment will be deliver on quality but also be cost-effective.

In addition, the equipment planner can work with supply chain personnel and end-users to effectively plan to reduce the likelihood of costly change orders in the later stages of the project.

By keeping the equipment planner engaged throughout the lifecycle of the project, the equipment list can be effectively managed, and kept up-to-date, reducing the need to overhaul equipment purchasing process as the project enters the later stages.

To learn about how Premier can help with your construction projects, click here.